A solid adaptation of an excellent novel. The child actors do a remarkable job, while the adults detail the ignorance and bigotry of the Old South very well. The book was told through the eyes of a child and the filmmakers do a tremendous job of creating a world that a child can understand.
The story is about growing up. Scout is a tomboy, reluctant to grow into womanhood. Her lawyer father, Atticus Finch (played by Gregory Peck), is trying to get her to embrace the changes that are coming for her and tries to break her of her tomboy ways. A bit of a hellion, Scout’s adventures get her into trouble and she learns valuable lessons about treating people with respect and being right with those around you.
All this takes place in 1930s Alabama, where segregation and racism run rampant, creating the opportunity for unique parallels. Scout’s rebelling against accepting change is mirrored by those in her town who refuse to give up their racist beliefs. While subtle, it shows that adults can be no better than children when dealing with change. The town is divided over the trial of a black man accused of raping a deadbeat redneck’s daughter.
Sharp viewers will note that this is Robert Duvall’s debut in a major motion picture, but I’ll leave it up to you to figure out who he plays. While it can’t possibly recreate the world of Harper Lee’s book to a T, To Kill a Mockingbird is a hard-hitting film with themes that resonate with young and old alike.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
No comments:
Post a Comment